"Hopefully we can get Andrew through a whole season and McDonald has gotten a lot of reps," Aggies head coach DeWayne Walker said. "Even though (Colwell) is running with the threes, he played a lot last year too. I feel like we have got the guys at that position."

Four quarterbacks took snaps for the Aggies last year after injuries hit the position that started with Manley's torn ACL against UTEP in Week 3.

Manley's season ended after 892 yards and six touchdowns in three games as a sophomore, before being granted a medical redshirt.

"It feels 100 percent," Manley said. "I'm out here every day and I'm able to do everything I did before. I just ice it to be safe."

Manley didn't have to learn a new offense coming off the injury despite the departure of offensive coordinator Doug Martin. First-year coordinator Jerry McManus was a long-time assistant under Martin at Kent State and East Carolina.

"I feel that's what got me out here faster, knowing the offense," Manley said. "Last year when I was hurt, I took a lot of mental reps, seeing why coaches call certain plays in certain situations. I feel like I have matured a lot from last season.

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Manley's injury last year opened the door for senior Matt Christian to step back in as the starter.

While Manley provides a big arm presence in the pocket, Christian's ability to make plays with his feet opened up the attack at times.

Walker believes McDonald also adds a mobile component to the position. McDonald rushed for 299 yards and 10 touchdowns, and passed for 4,229 yards and 50 touchdowns on 65 percent completion at Santa Ana College in the Southern California Football Association - the same league that Christian came from before joining NMSU.

"At Santa Ana, we ran a multiple offense kind of like this but I didn't go under center," said McDonald, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior. "It was something that I had to adjust to in the spring. I think I picked it up pretty fast but meetings help and film helps."

McDonald has quarterback bloodlines and a relationship with Walker that dates back to the coach's time as an assistant coach at the University of Southern California.

McDonald's father, Paul, was an All-American at USC in 1979 and he played for the Cleveland Browns and the Dallas Cowboys before moving into the radio booth for the Trojans.

"I remember when he was five years old and I was coaching at USC," Walker said. "His dad was a USC quarterback back in the day and he did radio there. I have been watching him for years."

McDonald had interest from Kent State, Texas San-Antonio and Utah before choosing NMSU.

"When (Walker) called, it felt like the right fit for me," McDonald said.

Colwell's combination of size, arm strength and mobility makes him an intriguing prospect for the future after appearing in seven games as a freshman last year.

But with two experienced quarterbacks in front of him, Colwell could also an attractive candidate for a redshirt season.

"It's something I think at that position, that we won't know until we get through the season," Walker said. "If one quarterback stays healthy, there is a chance we can consider that."

Manley enters the season the clear-cut starter.

But as last season proved, NMSU may need more than one capable quarterback to get through the year.

"Last year, Matt Christian was able to push me through camp and I got better and when I got hurt, he was able to come right in," Manley said. "I hope it doesn't happen again this year, but it's good that we have people behind me and pushing me."

Jason Groves can be reached at (575) 541-5459. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.

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